Fence-post.



Patented May 2|, |901. J. F. MARTIN.

FENCE POST.

(Application led Oct. 19, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

f I I Il (Application med Oct 19, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mndel.)

Patented May 2|, |901'.

.L F. MARTIN.

F E N C E P 0 ST.

(Application led Oct. 19, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

.inf

UNITED STATES PATENT Unsinn.

JOHN F. MARTIN, OF MARSHALL, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-Pos1.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,538, dated May 21, 1901.

Application tied'october 19,1900. serai no. 33,573. ino model.;

-improve the construction of fence-posts and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive post which will be practically indestructible and which will not be affected by umn or frame from the weatherand from the Aa hitching-post.

the weather or the moisture of the ground.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully, described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is an'elevatio`n of the wire column or framework of a post constructed in accordance with this invention, the cement being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the post. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a wire column or framework, illustrating another form of the invention. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating another modification of the invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating another form of the wire column or frame. Figs. 7 and Bare perspective views showing columns or frames provided with angle-bars. tive view of a frame or column designed for Fig. lO is a horizontal sectional view of the frame or column illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig. 1l is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the wire column or framework shown in Fig. 1, illustrating `the manner of connecting the wires.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates a post consisting of a frame or column 2,embedded in a filling or body portion 3consisting of cement or other plastic material, which is adapted to protect the coleffects of the moisture in the ground, and the frame or column binds the plastic material and aords the necessary strength whereby a Fig. 9 is a perspec-` fence-.post is provided which will be practically indestructible. The fence-post tapers from the bottom to the top, and the column or frame is also tapering to conform to the contour of the post, and it is approximately rectangular in cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, each side of the frame or column consisting of-longitudinal wires 4, disposed in zigzag form and forming a symmetrical design. The wires 4 are twisted together 'at the bottom. of the frame or columnat 5 and diverge therefrom toward the corners of the frame or column, where they are twisted at 6 around the wires of the adjacent sides. From these points the wires 4 converge and are twisted together directly above the twisted portion 5. The wires are laced back and forth in this manner, forming approximately diamond shaped loops which gradually decrease in size toward the top of the post, where all of the wires are united. i

The post is provided at intervals at its upper portion with horizontal loops 7, projecting outward beyond the plastic body portion or filling and having alined openings which are adapted to receive a rod 8. The arms and the rod are designed for securing the fencing material to the post,` and this fencing material may consist of boards, woven wire, horizontal wires or runners, or the like, and such fencing is readily applied to the post. The loops '7 are twisted to form solid Shanks 8', and they are preferably formed by a single continuous wire 9, laced back and forth within the frame or column and extended outward horizontally therefrom at intervals to provide the loops 7. After the wire column or frame is formed the cementis applied by means of suitable molds and a solid fence-post is produced. The wires at the base of the wire frame or column are preferably formed into a horizontal rectangular base 10, having straight sides, which may be either twisted or plain.

In Fig. l of the drawings conventional twists are shown for connecting the wires 4t, which are laced back and forth, as before explained; but in Fig. l1 of the drawings the exact manner of twisting the wires together is illustrated.

In Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated another form of wire column or IOC frame, which consists of four approximately vertical wires 11, located at the centers of the sides ofI the frame or column and connected by four zigzagly-bent corner-wires 12. Each of the corner-wires 12 is extended back and forth between the adjacent upright wires, and the connecting portions 13, which are inclined, are angularly bent to form a frame or column which is approximately rectangular in horizontal section, as clearly shown in Fig. 4oftheaccompanyingdrawings. Thecornerwires, which are laced back and forth, are twisted together at their points of connection, and the upright wires are also twisted or coiled around the corner-wires at the points where they are joined together. A rectangular base 14E is preferably formed at the bottom of the frame or column, which is also provided at intervals with horizontal loops 15, arranged at the upper portion of the post and projecting beyond the body portion or lling to receive a vertical locking-rod 16. Each horizontal loop 15 is preferably constructed of a separate piece of wire twisted around the wires of the frame or column and having one side extended to form a horizontal brace 17. The horizontal brace 17 extends across the wire frame or column and strengthens the same.

In Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings the wire frame or column has a general circular or cylindrical form, and it is provided with a circular base 18, and it consists of four spirally-coiled wires 19, connected at theirpoints of intersection by separate wire ties 20, and each pair of spirally-coiled wires 19 forms a series of inversely-arranged approximately zigzagly-disposed inclined elliptical loops 21. The .elliptical loops formed by one pair of wires are connected at the centersof their sides by the elliptical loops formed by the opposite pair of wires. This form of frame or column is provided with twisted horizontal loops 22 for the reception of a locking-wire 23, and each locking-wire is provided at its upper end with a hook for engaging the uppermost horizontal arm. The horizontal arms 22 are preferably formed by separate wires, each wire having an extension forming a horizontal brace 24,which extends across the elliptical loops and which is twisted around the same to dispense with the clips 2O at these points.

The column or frame shown in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings is provided with two angle-bars 25 and 26, placed flat against each other and composed of sides or wings of unequal Width and connected at intervals by rivets or other suitable fastening devices. The ribs or flanges are provided at regular intervals with notches 27, and the frame or column is completed by a continuous wire coiled horizontally around the angle-bars in the notches. After each coil 28 is completed the wire is extended diagonally to form an inclined connecting portion 29,which extends upward to the next set of notches, at which point the wire is coiled horizontally to form anotherfloop, and after the latteris completed it is extended upward to the next set of notches or recesses. The inclined connecting` portions 29 form aspiral brace extending from the bottom to the top of the post. Horizontal arms or loops 30 are formed at intervals by extending the wire which is twisted, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The twisted loops 30 are provided with eyes for the reception of a locking-rod 31.

The form of the column shown in Fig. 6

is substantially the same as that illustrated in Fig. 3, with the exception that the column orframeiscylindrical. Thecolumn orframe is provided with the upright wires 11, arranged approximately vertical and located at opposite sides of the said frame or column. Each of the wires 12 is laced back and forth to provide curved connecting portions 13a. The horizontal loops 15a are secured to one of the vertical wires 1l, but they may be extended across the frame or collar if desired.

Another form ot the frame or column hav-` ing angle-bars is illustrated in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings, and in this form of the invention the angle-bars 32 and 33 have their wings or flanges perforated for the reception of the coils 34, which are arranged on a slighty slant and which are formed by a continuous wire. After each coil 34 is completed the wire is extended upward to the next set of perforations. The loops at one side of the post are extended to form projecting eyes 35, which are located diametrically opposite the connecting portions 36.

The invention may be employed for other purposes than fence construction, and in Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated a frame which is adapted for hitehing-posts. The frame is composed of upper and lower plates 37 and 38, connecting-wires 39, and a projecting loop 40. The connecting-wires 39 are preferably composed of twisted strands secured at their terminals to the plates, at the corners thereof, and the loop 40 is twisted to form an eye and extends centrally to form a top plate. The twisted loop 40 is designed to project beyond the body portion or filling to aord means for connecting a hitchingstrap to the post.

What I claim is- 1. A device of the class described comprising a body portion or filling of suitable material, and a skeleton frame or column embedded within the body portion or filling and provided at intervals throughout its length with loops located wholly within the said body portion or filling and extending entirely around the said frame or column, said loops being constructed of a continuous wire, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a body portion `or filling of suitable Inaterial, and a skeleton frame or column embedded in the said material and provided with a vertical series of loops located wholly within IOO IIO

in the said material and provided at intervals.

with a vertical series of loops located wholly Within the body portion or filling, said frame or column being also provided at intervals with projecting horizontal loops forming a part of the column or frame and extending beyond the body portion or filling to form exterior eyes, and a locking-rod arranged in the eyes,substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising a body portion or filling of suitable 1naterial, and a frame or column embedded in the material and provided with a vertical series of wire loops extending from the top to the bottom of the frame or column, and located whollywithin the body portion or filling and consisting of continuous Wires, said frame or column being also provided at intervals With'projecting horizontal loops forming exterior eyes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of Witnesses.

JOHN F. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE INGERsoLL, EDNA J. INGERsoLL, JESSE M. HATCH. 

